The World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have announced a significant partnership to co-finance a $239.5 million project aimed at combating Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in the Pacific, with Fiji serving as the operational hub. This initiative, named the Pacific Healthy Islands Transformation (PHIT) project, is designed to revolutionize Fiji’s health sector and address one of the most pressing health challenges faced in the region.
During a joint announcement made in Manila, World Bank President Ajay Banga and ADB President Masato Kanda highlighted that the PHIT project represents the largest single operation undertaken by the World Bank Group in the Pacific. The World Bank will take the lead in this collaboration. The project aims to modernize primary health care systems and construct a new, state-of-the-art regional hospital, thereby expanding access to critical treatments for conditions such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and many other major health issues faced by Pacific communities.
Fiji’s Minister for Finance, Esrom Immanuel, expressed optimism regarding the project, stating that it supports both primary and tertiary care levels, focusing on improving access to quality health services and enhancing NCD management. The new Colonial War Memorial Hospital is a key component of the project, designed with climate-resilient and gender-responsive features, reflecting the growing need for modern health infrastructures in the Pacific.
Mr. Banga projected that PHIT would positively impact approximately two million people and generate around 11,000 jobs across multiple Pacific nations, including Fiji, Tonga, Kiribati, Tuvalu, Nauru, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu.
The new Full Mutual Reliance Framework (FMRF), implemented earlier this year, streamlines project financing by allowing member countries to collaborate with a single lead lender—either the ADB or the World Bank. This approach aims to enhance project implementation efficiency, reduce transaction costs, and maintain adherence to high policy standards.
The launch of the PHIT project highlights a collaborative effort to tackle vital health disparities in the Pacific and emphasizes the importance of integrated health systems in promoting the well-being of communities. Through these strategic investments, the World Bank and ADB are taking a substantial step forward in the battle against NCDs, fostering healthier futures for Pacific nations.